MSU-Mankato sweeps Northern St.

Mavericks win their first Northern Sun regular-season title

MANKATO, Minn. -- No. 8 Minnesota State-Mankato used a sweep against Northern State to solidify its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season title. The Mavericks beat the Wolves 2-1 and 5-0 Monday to take the top seed in the NSIC tournament.

MSU used a six-hit performance to take game one of the series. The Mavericks scored a run in the third inning when Melanie Upchurch singled, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, moved to third on an illegal pitch before Lindsay Erickson singled down the right field line to score Upchurch. Lindsay Erickson was 2-for-2 with a walk in the contest.

The game-winning run was scored in the bottom of the fifth by Lauryn Morris. She knocked a two-out double before advancing to third on a passed ball. Chelsea Erickson roped her in on a double to centerfield to put MSU up 2-0.

The Wolves tallied a run in the sixth from a double followed by a single. The run marked the first Kendra Huettl gave up after 35 consecutive shutout innings. Huettl was able to close out the game, marking her 20th win of the season with eight strikeouts.

The Mavericks used nine hits in the second game to secure the 5-0 win with Chelsea Erickson leading the way going 2-for-3 from the plate and three RBI.

In the third inning, Amanda Umhoefer walked to start the inning and moved up a base on Upchurch’s bunt single. Lindsay Erickson singled to score Umhoefer before Chelsea Erickson knocked in Upchurch on a single to spark a 2-0 lead.

The Mavericks added two more runs in the fifth when Upchurch walked and Chelsea Erickson hit a two-run homer. Chelsea Erickson’s home run was her team-leading 10th of the season.

Chelsea Riordan took first on a fielder’s choice in the sixth inning that was followed by an Umhoefer bloop single. Upchurch singled to score Eryn Edgerton, who pinch ran for Riordan, for the final run of the game.

Courtney McKelvogue went seven innings for the Mavericks, giving up two hits and striking out seven for her 19th win of the season.